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Man charged after fleeing police, ramming squad car in Cottage Grove

A man faces felony charges for allegedly leading Cottage Grove police on a chase that reached upward of 100 mph before he rammed a squad car and fought arrest.

Brandon D. Carter, 30, is charged with fleeing a police officer and fifth-degree possession of methamphetamine, both felonies, and with gross-misdemeanor obstructing the legal process in the incident last month.

According to the Washington County District Court criminal complaint:

A Cottage Grove police officer saw a truck with a broken tail light lens at about 12:20 a.m. July 25 near 90th Street and Greenway Avenue. Police stopped the truck at Grange Boulevard and Grenadier Avenue, but the driver, identified as Carter, sped away as the officer walked toward the truck.

Carter headed east on 80th Street at speeds reaching 80 to 100 mph as the officer followed him. As they were east of Keats Avenue, the officer pulled up next to the truck and Carter braked aggressively and skidded, eventually hitting the squad car.

A second officer approached from behind Carter’s truck. Carter put his truck in reverse and collided with the second squad, the complaint says.

Carter resisted arrest, clenching his fists, flailing and kicking the police. An officer used a Taser to apprehend him.

The complaint states that police found a pipe with marijuana residue in Carter’s pants pocket and a baggie containing what was believed to be .65 grams of methamphetamine on the driver’s seat.

Carter, who has no permanent address, was convicted of fifth-degree controlled substance possession in Washington County in 2012. He is scheduled to appear in Washington County District Court Thursday, Aug. 7, on the new charges.